Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Dangling

Last spring, the first time Steve and I did a real ride together, we climbed up the south side of Suncrest. I was able to hang with him all the way up (he may have let me), and then when we pushed it at the top, I managed to pull away. As the season progressed, we traded blows, but he had the advantage more often than not—especially when it counted—dropping me en route to wins at Little Mountain and Tour of Park City, and a runner up at Lotoja. I outpaced him at Leadville, but he doesn’t even own a mountain bike, so I’m not sure if that one counts.

We’ll see if it’s even close this season. Yesterday we pre-rode the course for the Bikes 4 Kids circuit race, which includes a four mile climb from Daybreak to the entrance of Kennecott. He was at the top—relaxed and with his foot on the ground—by the time I got there. I can’t be certain, but he may have prepared and eaten a peanut butter sandwich while he waited.

For now, I’m going to pretend that I was just having a bad day. I’m going to pretend that since Steve loses weight in winter but gains it during cycling season while I do the opposite, that these things will balance out. I’m going to pretend that things could shake out differently in an actual race environment, even though I know that on race day Steve summons the Eye of the Tiger better than any racer I’ve competed against. In other words, I’m going to delude myself into thinking that the starving, suffering, and sweating I’m just starting to endure will eventually bear fruit.

After yesterday’s ride, I came home and watched coverage of Milan San Remo. I saw Cavendish suffer as he dangled at the back on the Cipressa climb before the final thread snapped and he knew he wouldn’t catch back on. I like to think that I know that feeling. I’m just hoping I also come to experience the feeling of redemption he had to have had today when he took the stage at Catalunya.

Yes, I realize that it’s exceptionally lame to compare one’s self with a professional athlete, especially one of Mark Cavendish’s caliber. I can’t help it. Cavendish gets dropped on a lot of climbs. I can relate to that. He also wins a lot. That gives me hope. And if we don’t have elusive hope, what have we got?

9 comments:

  1. "And if we don’t have elusive hope, what have we got?"

    nutella?

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  2. They should put that on the Nutella bottle: a chocolate substitute for hope.

    I don't think it's odd to compare yourself to pros. The scale is different, but the struggle is the same.

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  3. Dug: I'll remember that next time I feel hopeless.

    Kris: Really, other than having the same first name, all I have in common with Mark Cavendish is that we get dropped on the climbs. But thanks for reassuring me.

    Rabid: waiting for your comment--you've got a blank slate.

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  4. Dude, I live on the fuel of elusive hope.

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  5. Funny! I don't think I will ever think of Nutella in the same way again.

    Thinking like you are a pro is what gives us mere mortals hope (or delusion). It's like those that take those jump shots in practice, dreaming it is the winning shot. Or those training with injuries to think of the year Tyler Hamilton rode with a dislocated shoulder in the TdF. Like KK said, the scale is different but in your mind, it's the same.

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  6. "delusion"

    a single word definition of my life....

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  7. You have your health, of course. I believe health is at the bottom of the totem pole. Just below elusive hope.

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  8. Good luck. I had the same delusions about my first crit 2 weeks ago. I am within 5% of a friend of mine and on any given day one of us finishes before the other. Never know who...

    Well at the crit he took 13th... ...I was dropped on the second lap.

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